The blog area here is starting to get all tarted up with new buttons and badges kinda like a NASCAR sportscar. So here's an explanation of all these clicky things. In the upper right corner of each comic post, you'll see a Flattr button. Flattr is sort of like a micro-donation site that lets users "flatter" content that they like. When you create an account, you can put in a set amount of money that will be distributed evenly to all the sites that you "flatter." If you flatter one site, that site gets all your money. If you flater ten, your money gets divided evenly into ten bits. Money is distributed at the end of each month. Here's a video from the Flattr guys to explain it a little better.



The Flattr button only appears on comic posts. Bellow the Flattr button and on the top right of every post here at YP is the tweetmeme button. When you click this bad boy, it sends the post to your twitter account so you can share with your all your friends. It also keeps track of how many times the post gets linked on twitter. I use this when a new comic goes up so you'll typically see at least a number one in the tweet badge.

Below each post is the new Facebook Like button. If you're already logged into Facebook, clicking the Like button will send the post to your recent activity on your Facebook profile and share what you liked with the world. I've also hooked up the Like button the right sidebar which will share the site with your recent activity.

So if you enjoy YP and want to spread it like a disease or want to support the comic, that's what all those clicky badgy things are for.

This is manga-ka Yoshitoshi Abe sketching on an iPad with LiveSketch HD. After seeing this video and some of the sketches Jim Lee posted a while back, I'm kind of coming around to the notion that even without pressure sensitivity, maybe the iPad could be good for arting after all. I could see doing a whole mess of quick comics on the ride to and from work.

You may not know that "banana" can be used as a racial invective. How can something so tasty (especially split open with three scoops of ice cream on top) be used as a hurtful term? I know I raised an eyebrow or two when I first heard it as an insult.

A "banana" is an Asian person who acts White, essentially Yellow on the outside, White on the inside. This assumes, of course, that there is both a way to act Asian and a way to act White. Both assumptions are pretty stupid in the new millennium, but still the insult continues to survive in Asian culture.

Well, our good friend the SexyDragon decided to demonstrate just how silly it is to be labeled a banana.



Source: Sexy Dragon Production

This is Anne, Ken Watanabe's daughter. She's a fashion model which is normally something I don't really care about. But she's also one of the more public faces of the latest Japanese subculture, the reki-jo or "history girls."

The reki-jo are female otaku who study up on their favorite period of Japanese history focusing on samurai culture. The Shinsengumi, the elite police force of the last Shogun, are a popular group of study.

NPR has a great piece on the reki-jo and what they mean for Japanese pop culture. I'm hoping that these "history girls" can spread their influence to Western otaku cause honestly, the anime con cosplay could use some classing up.

Source: NPR

By now it should be clear that I'm a gigantic Kamen Rider fan. So I nearly messed my pants when I saw this video. It's every Kamen Rider's henshin sequence from Kuuga to Decade and it's all kinds of epic goodness. My favorite rider show is still Kamen Rider Faiz and my favorite Rider is Kick Hopper. I really wish the Hoppers were used better in Kamen Rider Kabuto. Ah well. Maybe I'll do a doujinshi someday starring the Hoppers.

Anyway, if you've ever wondered what the hell a Kamen Rider is, this is a pretty good introduction.

I've talked about it on the devlopement blog for a while and now it's finally ready to believe you! The Yellow Peril Facebook Fanpage is live and kicking! I'll be posting discussion topics when I come up with something good and linking to various awesome things around the net that are worth checking out. I've also embedded the podcast so you can listen to it in the Podcast tab on the page. Check it out and become a fan if you want to join in on the discussion.

Here's a short video intro I recorded to introduce the page:

Like pretty much everyone else, I can't help but love a good breast story. Playwright/performer Prince Gomolvilas recounts a story about his sister's breast implants and what they have to do with golf. It's a brilliant story told so well by Gomolvilas and it really makes me want to frequent Hooters more often to support their color-blind policies.

Source: Bamboo Nation

Here's the latest promo for Super Street Fighter IV. I freaking love Dee Jay with his maracas. SSFIV looks like a great entry into the franchise. I'm surprised that they're charging $39.99 instead of the typical full priced $59.99 for next gen games. I think it shows that Capcom really appreciates their fans and knows that a lot of folks who will be picking up SSFIV already have the first game.

At some point, I'd like to have some kind of SFIV tourney. But I don't have a gold account. I've got it on the iPhone though, so if you ever stop by at a con and want to throw down, I'll be ready for you!

It's official! I'm headed to Small Press Expo this year! I'll be chillin' with Yuko and Ananth. It's my first SPX as an exhibitor so I'm really nervous and excited. I've got to get some stuff made for the con. I'm planning on doing a mini comic for the Expo which is actually already lettered and penciled, I just need to the ink the bugger, do a cover, and figure out how to print the thing. But I'm planning on having it with me. I'm also working on a new shirt that might actually be sellable. I'm contemplating keeping my tokusatsu, Gundam related shirts at MySoti (shirts that I just want to wear) and my real ones (shirts that might actually be marketable) with this other place I'm working with, but we'll see how things turn out. And if the gods are smiling upon me, I might have a mini figure to bring along! So mark your calendars for September 10 and 11 of 2010! I'll see you at the Expo (which actually happens to be right across the street from where I live so if you come, I can take you to some fun places to eat).

Here in America, San Diego ComicCon is the biggest nerdfest we've got with Anime Expo coming in at a huge second. But apparently, our otaku friends in Japan take geek cons to a whole new level. Comiket and Wonderfest make San Diego and Expo look like junior trade shows. In particular, I'm amazed at how gigantic Comiket is. It's essentially an independent, amateur comic convention and it's a bajillion times bigger than San Diego which showcases all professional comicers.

The Giant Robot folks give us a brief look at these two gigantic Japanese conventions. Part of me really wants to check out Comiket at some point. The other part of me doesn't think I'd survive such a massive gathering of awesome.